News Archives
July, 2018

Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) over this past weekend sent a team of volunteers to work at the Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas. In the first two days, the team served more than 150 children.
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The small group experience at National Youth Conference (NYC) felt similar to Sunday school for Aubrey, a youth participant from Maryland. Her small group was a setting that encouraged everyone to contribute to the discussions as they wished.
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Six youth and two advisors from across the denomination came together for a year and a half of meetings and brainstorming sessions before finally arriving at Fort Collins, Colo., for National Youth Conference (NYC). Each member was recommended for the job of working with Kelsey Murray, NYC coordinator, and Becky Ullom Naugle, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, to create NYC.
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Sisters Julia and Marina Moneta Facini travelled from São Paulo, Brazil, to attend National Youth Conference. They were two of six international participants who were able to get visas to attend the conference through the Church of the Brethren Global Mission and Service.
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In the morning, there is the calm before the storm. Everyone is hard at work--staff, youth workers, volunteers--but there are only a few precious hours before the youth arrive. Their buses are being loaded somewhere two, three, five hours away. Or perhaps they have been on buses for one, two, or more days. Some are walking through airport security now, some are preparing for their first flights. Experienced travelers are mixed together with the homesick, who may be leaving home for the first time.
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
1) Task of seeking a ‘compelling vision’ is begun with conversation among Conference-goers
2) Delegates affirm the ecumenical and interfaith work of the church
3) ‘Creation Care: Faith into Action’ recommendations are adopted
4) Conference adopts new vision for a global Church of the Brethren
5) ‘Vitality and Viability’ report focuses on providing resources for renewed vitality
6) Changes to the Church of the Brethren bylaws are approved, among other business
7) Paul Mundey to serve as moderator-elect of Annual Conference, among other elections and appointments
8) Standing Committee discusses Michigan District situation
9) Annual Conference welcomes new projects, fellowships, and congregations
10) ‘Witness to the Host City’ aids women in rehabilitation treatment, and their children
11) Annual Conference by the numbers, and more from Cincinnati
NEWS
12) Vietnam initiative focuses on babies with Retinopathy of Prematurity
13) Brethren bits Read more »

In this issue: Remembrance, personnel notes, job openings, Camp Swatara’s 75th anniversary, Pinecrest Community’s 125th anniversary, Indian Creek’s new Peace Pole, World Week of Peace in Palestine and Israel, “Playback Social Entrepreneurs®,” Brethren author new book “September Mourn: The Dunker church of Antietam Battlefield,” and more news by, for, and about Brethren. Read more »

In downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, there is a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad and slavery in the United States. As soon as I began viewing the first part of the exhibit, I was overcome with emotion, seeing the portrayals of men bound in chains staring down the barrel of a gun. My eyes filled with tears.
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The report titled “Vitality and Viability” and its recommendations were adopted by the 2018 Annual Conference. The study committee that brought this report was formed to address concerns raised at the 2015 Annual Conference, which returned a query about district structure but assigned to this committee the broader topic of viability within congregations, districts, and the denomination.
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Annual Conference on July 7 adopted the paper, “Vision for a Global Church of the Brethren.” This document was brought by the Mission and Ministry Board at the initiative of staff of Global Mission and Service, and has been in process for some time. Those involved in its development include the Mission Advisory Committee and church leaders from several countries.
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Amendments to the bylaws of the Church of the Brethren and two business items originally brought by Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) in 2017--and then deferred for a year--were approved by the 2018 Annual Conference. Also approved were business items related to the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee. A proposal for a denominational leadership gathering was turned down.
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In 2016, a Creation Care study committee was authorized in response to a query on continuing the study of our Christian responsibility to care for God’s creation. Their report, titled “Creation Care: Faith into Action,” includes a list of recommendations that have been adopted by the 2018 Annual Conference.
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As Wendy McFadden introduced the session “Poetry: Read It. Write It,” she remarked that it is the first or only insight session on the specific topic of poetry that she is aware of in her history with Annual Conference. If that is the case, Ken Gibble stepped up to the plate.
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Witness to the Host City is an acknowledgment each year in which Annual Conference comes together to give back to a special organization in the host city. This year’s recipient is First Step Home, a women’s rehabilitation facility that allows women to receive treatment while still having custody of their children.
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Bethany Theological Seminary held its annual luncheon July 6 during the 2018 Annual Conference. The event provided opportunity to recognize recent graduates of both the seminary and the Brethren Academy, and a time to fellowship with new and old friends. This year president Jeff Carter gave those gathered a preview of the full report he would give to the delegate body of the Conference that afternoon.
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Eric Brubaker, a member of the ministry team at Middle Creek Church of the Brethren, admitted his apprehension at wrestling with the ramifications of the assigned topic, “How can a divided house stand?” at an insight session sponsored by the Brethren Revival Fellowship (BRF). In keeping with the Annual Conference theme, “Living Parables,” the selected scripture was Mark 3:20-26. Key verses are 24-26, referring to a kingdom and a house divided, and Satan risen up against himself.
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On June 28, 1914, Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated and a month later Europe was plunged in war. As described by Steve Longenecker, Edwin L. Turner Distinguished Professor of History at Bridgewater (Va.) College, it was the first time modern industrial nations engaged in total war involving entire populations and whole industries. Tens of thousands of soldiers died in a single day of fighting. Economies crumbled. Life changed.
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The 2017 Annual Conference set the church to the task of framing a “compelling vision” for how the entire denomination will continue the work of Jesus together, by adopting a recommendation from the Leadership Team and the Council of District Executives.
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The 2018 Conference approved “Vision of Ecumenism for the 21st Century,” and in doing so reaffirmed the historical identity of the Church of the Brethren as a denomination active in ecumenical work and in relationship with other Christian bodies. The paper also calls the church to build and nurture positive interfaith relationships.
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Ten new worshiping groups located in six districts across the denomination were welcomed by the 2018 Annual Conference. They include two new congregations, two new fellowships, and six new projects.
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The Almuerzo, a Spanish-language lunch event sponsored by Discipleship Ministries (formerly Congregational Life Ministries), took place July 5 during Annual Conference in Cincinnati, gathering 51 people including more than 20 pastors and church planters.
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In election results today, the Annual Conference chose Paul Mundey of Frederick, Md., as moderator-elect. He will serve as moderator-elect for one year, and then in 2020 he will serve as moderator of the Annual Conference.
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A “Families Belong Together” candlelight vigil sponsored by the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy gathered outside the main doors of the convention center in Cincinnati, where Annual Conference is taking place this week.
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Several unusual attempts to open the Standing Committee agenda to new business led to lengthy discussions of a situation in Michigan District and led to action to begin to address “gaps” in the Standing Committee appeals processes.
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